Posts Tagged ‘wedding shoes’

It’s hard to look at any royal blue satin heel with sparkly ornamentation at the toe, like the Glint Radiance pictured above, and not think of one thing: Sex and the City. Of course, I’m talking about this shoe:

The Manolo Blahnik Something Blue, which is available at Bergdorf Goodman for $945, became a shoe icon after being featured prominently in the first Sex and the City movie and it’s inspired many a knockoff. But, the Glint Radiance Pump (pictured top) is interesting because it has similar features of the Something Blue, but rather than being an exact replica, it’s actually a mish mash of it and another famous shoe style from the series:

The Manolo Blahnik Sedaraby d’orsay pump in silver (it also comes in blue) was one of the stars of the TV series in A Woman’s Right to Shoes. Of course, this is the episode where Carrie attends a friend’s baby shower and the house rules are to take your shoes off at the door. Carrie reluctantly does so and ends up having her shoes missing by the end of the party, which her friend offers to replace before finding out their price tag of $485. This brought on some shoe shame by her friend for spending so much money on the shoes in the first place. Of course, in the end, Carrie decides she does have a right to $485 shoes – and I quote, “The fact is, sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun” - so after spending so much on her friend’s wedding and baby gifts, she makes a point by registering herself at Manolo Blahnik for the shoes and the friend finally agrees to replace them. Such a great episode.

The Sedaraby is still available now, but at $755, even die-hard lovers of SATC who would love to obtain Carrie’s shoe style may just find it well out of their reach. That’s why the Glint Radiance is a great alternative that combines features of both Manolos I’m talking about here, without being an exact copy of either, but at a much more affordable price of $119.95 at Nordstrom. Not to mention, it’s a beautiful shoe in its own right with a different style of jewel decor that makes it stand out on its own. In particular, I’m sure many brides will love the gorgeous blue version at the top for a little something blue in their shoes, but there is an ivory version (pictured above) that would also be ideal for walking down the aisle.

Of course, even though the shoes do have a bridal slant to them, you certainly don’t have to be getting married to wear them, as Carrie clearly demonstrated in the show as a single shoe-loving girl. I really like the silver version for being the kind of shoe you can have on hand for the times you need to get a bit fancy and one that would quite literally go with anything you want to wear it with. Ok, maybe not everything, but metallic silver is definitely known for its extreme versatility.

Another notable thing about these shoes: They come in a wide range of sizes, from 4-12.

Since wedding season is upon us, we have plenty of brides looking for the ideal shoes to go along with their dress; thus, we have another bridal-themed Find My Shoes post today! I received two requests recently from brides-to-be that are both looking for purple shoes for their big day. First, we have Shannon, who is wearing the beautiful Alfred Angelo Belle dress (pictured above, left) and wants to find shoes in the shade of David’s Bridal plum. She loves the look of the $230 High Society Heel at My Glass Slipper (pictured above, right), but needs something more affordable. We also have Jessica, who wants to find an elegant, not-too-expensive style in bright purple. So, I’ve been on the hunt for a plethora of pretty purple pumps that just might work for these ladies, or at least hopefully so. Here’s what I found:

After looking at available options, I believe the best way to get the look of the High Society heel on a budget is to go with a shoe clip. The nice thing about going this route is having more flexibility to choose the exact shoe style you want – for instance, Bridalshoes.com has lots of dyeable wedding shoes under $100 in various heel heights and 4 shades of purple to choose from. A simple, but dressy heel, like the dyeable satin Touch Ups Flash-647 (pictured above, left) could work well and it’s affordably priced at $54 with a $14 dye fee. You can then pick out a shoe clip and I tend to like the wide selection of options at Etsy. The floral shoe clip pictured above is $24 in gold or silver and I think it would look really nice contrasted with purple. When you combine the cost of the shoe and the shoe clip, it totals $92, which is less than half the cost of the High Society style.

Here are some ready-made options I found (Note: I tried to get as close as possible to the requested plum shade, but I am basing this solely on the picture, which may not always be exact):

Coloriffics Rave for $99.95 with free shipping at Endless. Spend $100 or more on eligible styles, including this one, and get 20% off with coupon code FORMAL12 (exp 5/7/12). The base color of these shoes appears lighter, but the stones are a darker purple.

Now for some bright purple options. I included more variety as far as the actual shade goes with these shoes since bright purple can mean different things to different people. Of course, it’s the bride’s call to determine what exact shade will work for her, so here are some possibilities to consider:

J.Renee Rosina in multi for $79.95 with free shipping at Endless. This option clearly isn’t solid purple, but if you look close at the glitter, there is plenty of purple mixed in, so it could be really pretty.

I received another inquiry from a bride-to-be that needs some assistance finding her perfect wedding shoes and, in today’s Find My Shoes feature, I hope to help her out. For this particular request, the bride will be wearing an ivory version of the gorgeous Alfred Angelo dress you see pictured above and wants to find ivory wedding shoes to complement it for her upcoming garden wedding. She is looking for something with plenty of sparkle and something that is designed with some kind of strap over the foot because pumps and slingbacks tend to slide off her feet. She also wants a heel of up to 3.5″ and wants to stay within a budget of around $100, give or take a bit depending on the shoe. So, with that in mind, I set out to find some options that meet her desired criteria, or at least very close. Let’s take a look:

Kenneth Cole Reaction Know Blinkie in cream for $89.95 at Shoemall. Coupon code SHOESRFUN takes 20% off, making them $71.96 (exp. 4/18/12). They are also available at Dillards for $89.99. Note: Dillards has it listed as a 4″ heel, while Shoemall has it at 3.5″.

Nina Vianey in ivory for $49.99 with free shipping at 6pm. Also available at Shoebuy for $71.95 with free shipping and 15% off via the coupon listed above.

Coloriffics Camryn in ivory for $106.45 at Shoebuy. Use the coupon code listed above for 15% off.

Help! I’m getting married in October. My dress is ivory lace. I’m looking for a victorian boot or really nice but not too expensive closed toe pump to wear! I’m a bit of a lace/steampunk geek, and finding shoes to fit is so hard! Can you help?

I received this request by email for some help finding Victorian and/or Steampunk bridal shoes and, thus, I got to have a bit of fun scouting out some nontraditional wedding shoes that reflect these styles in some way or another. Some of the shoes I found are more Victorian – whether it be a hint of influence or more overt – and then there are those that also incorporate the edgy, industrial vibe that is often found with the Steampunk aesthetic: Think Victorian, but with a kick via heavy metal detail like gear embellishments (love this Steampunk wedding for inspiration). Also, some of the shoes I found are costume shoes technically, but if they provide the right look, they are viable options for the intended purpose. Of course, it all depends on the bride: her personal preferences, how far and literal she wants to go with the theme, and if she plans to wear traditional bridal colors like ivory or metallics or delve into darker shades like brown and black or even go with a print, like you see with the floral Poetic Licence Lady Victoria pictured above (These are available for $84 at Must Have Shoes). Whatever the case may be, here are more various options I came across and, hopefully, one of these just might be a perfect fit:

Funtasma Dame 115 for $54.95 with free shipping at Shoebuy. The ivory version is very close to being sold out, but they also carry gold (pictured) and black. For a shorter version, try the Funtasma Dame 05 for $49.95 with free shipping at Shoebuy or the Ivory Victorian boot at BuyCostumes for $42.99.

Hades Eiffel with metallic Steampunk heel in black, brown, or burgundy for $127.95 at Shoebuy. If you prefer the white “ice” version, it appears to be sold out in most places, but it shows as available at Funky Pair for $127.95.

Need a discount? Here are some coupon codes for some of the stores listed above:

Shoebuy Coupon code EMLTRAINING12 gives $7 off one pair of shoes, $15 off two, or $25 off three or more (exp. 4/17/12).

BuyCostumes Coupon code APRIL20 gives 20% off (working as of now, but may expire by today 4/16/12). Or, sign up for their email list to get a 15% off coupon or use code BUYMORE to get $5 off $50 or more (exp. 4/22/12).

I’ve talked about the gorgeous Enzo Angiolini Show You in blush before, but I had to mention the style again when I laid eyes on the white version (above), which I imagine many brides-to-be will fall head over heels in love with. It’s not that you have to be walking down the aisle to wear them, but they are particularly well-suited for the occasion. The all-over rhinestone detail gives a look that’s similar to those pricey Swarovski crystal encrusted heels, which tend to be hundreds or even thousands of dollars (Case in point: The Louboutin Sexy Strass for $3,095). And while we have seen an ongoing trend for wearing bold pops of color in wedding shoes, there will still be plenty of people who prefer to keep their ensemble in traditional head-to-toe white, but perhaps with some serious sparkle added in. The Enzos provide plenty of that and I really love the way the white upper looks against the irridescent crystals – beautiful! If you’re enamoured with them too, you can find them at Nordstrom for $159.95.

Update: I also just came across the Enzo Angiolini Show You in Dark Pink, which is available for $150 with free shipping at Zappos. You can also find these in White, Dark Pink, and Dark Blue at Endless for $150 to $159 with free shipping.

While we’re on the topic of bridal shoes, I also had a request on Facebook to help find the Steve Madden Luvly in purple (above), another shoe I’ve previously mentioned, for an upcoming wedding. Like the Enzos, this is a gorgeous option that offers plenty of sparkle, this time with a large rhinestone bow. It appears to be sold out everywhere, but I do currently see two listings at Ebay for a size 7 or 7.5 and they are new in box from a top-rated seller. That’s an option if the sizes are right, but a very similar look could be achieved using a shoe clip. Here’s an example of a shoe and a clip that could create the desired effect:

So…obviously it’s been awhile since I’ve updated the site. I didn’t intend to stop posting, but the demands of life got pretty intense for me over the holidays: A project at work that required a lot of extra hours and family stuff basically took over. But, it seems things have calmed down a bit and I really want to get back to something I love: shoes! And talking about them on this blog! I plan to get back into the swing of things and I thought answering some shoe questions I recently received would be a good way to start. You may have noticed the gorgeous Enzo Angiolini Thaddea in purple pictured above – it’s a shoe I loved the first time I saw it, but I also posted it for a more specific reason: I had a request from Jasmine on Facebook to help find purple / eggplant wedding shoes, preferably with some bling. These are one of my favorite fancy purple pairs of the moment - I’m loving the feather and gem detail, not to mention the color – and they can be purchased at Lord & Taylor for $129. Apply coupon code FINAL to get 15% off, making them $109.65 with free shipping (expires 2/7). They are also available at Nordstrom for $119.95 with free shipping.

I really like the Enzos, but I also realize that every bride is different in what they envision themselves walking down the aisle in. Thus, we need options, options, and more options, which works out well because I never mind checking out more pretty purple shoes. I think the Poetic License Spectacle in purple is a sweet choice. It has a more classic vibe, but the all-over texture adds extra interest and the bow is bedecked in rhinestones for added bling. Plus, the heel is just over 3 inches, which is quite moderate compared to many shoes available these days and may translate to additional comfort - avoiding foot pain is an obvious plus on the big day. The Poetic Licence Spectacle is available at Endless for $60.23, down from $98. If you spend over $100 on eligible styles, including this pair, you get 20% off through 2/14.

Here are some more dark purple heels I found, in various styles that range from classic to a bit more over-the-top dramatic (or somewhere in-between):

Steve Madden Bitter for $129.95 at Endless. Get 20% off $100 on this style at checkout through 2/14/12.

After a nice dose of purple bridal shoes, we’re going to switch gears to something completely different. I had an email question from Shadae about the shoes above, which were pictured on Tumblr, and where to find them. I actually recognized them right away because, well, this is the kind of shoe you remember once you lay your eyes on it.

This is one of Jeffrey Campbell’s latest naughty creations, the heel-less, totally spiked out Jeffrey Campbell Shadow. It’s definitely packing some serious edge for the fearless fashion lovers among us and can be found in black leather or patent at Karmaloop for $264 (no promo codes apply at this time) or at Solestruck in black leather for $264.95.

When Kate Middleton married Prince William earlier this year, it was a beautiful fairy-tale wedding and I loved her dress, but I have to admit I was disappointed when we couldn’t get a good look at her shoes. I’m not sure when or how I thought Kate would be able to show us her shoes, given that they were well-concealed under her full-length gown, but I did hope for a better glimpse. Fast-forward a few months later and my little shoe wish has come true now that Kate’s Alexander McQueen dress, heels, and more items from the royal wedding are on display at a Buckingham Palace exhibition. The custom lace shoes Kate wore are pictured above and, much like her gown, they are classic and elegant. They also appear deceptively simple, but all of those tiny little stitches were done by hand and there’s no telling how long they took to make. In light of Kate’s shoes making an official appearance, I decided to find some lace wedding shoes for those who want a similar look when marrying their own Prince Charming — or for anyone who wants to incorporate the feminine look of lace into their wardrobe. Let’s take a look:

The Stuart Weitzman Laceswoon has a similar silhouette in ivory lace. Find these at Zappos on sale for $255.50 with free shipping (retail $365).

BridalShoes.com has the Touch Ups Bobbie in ivory, which is also similar, but costs less at $74. The Touch Ups Catalina is a peep toe style in lace and it’s priced at $72. Note that both will be available in August.

My personal lace fave is the Chinese Laundry Hotline, which has bolder styling with the higher platform and bow detail. You can find these at Endless in ivory or black for $69 with free overnight shipping. If you spend $80 or more on your order, you’ll get $25 off automatically at checkout for a limited time. Shoemall has it for $69.95 and if you buy one item, you’ll get 30% off your second with coupon code BOGO through 7/30/11. Chinese Laundry also has it for $89.95.